Soft X-ray microscopies are powerful
analytical tools for addressing problems in nanosciences.
They achieve high spatial resolution with state-of-the-art Fresnel zone plate
optics demonstrating now better than 10nm spatial resolution. The wide tunability of the wavelength at synchrotron sources
provides inherent elemental specificity and the pulsed time structure at
current X-ray sources allows for stroboscopic pump-probe experiments to study
sub-ns dynamical processes. Utilizing strong magnetic dichroism
effects with polarized soft X-rays at specific photon energies enables a
quantitative imaging of nanoscale spin dynamics. The
high penetrability of soft X-ray has opened nanotomographic
capabilities which are being used in biological and environmental areas.
This workshop reviews recent achievements with full field soft X-ray microscopies in nanomaterials
sciences such as magnetic materials and environmental sciences and envisions
future capabilities.